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Volume 8, Issue 93 (Thursday, July 26th)LIMITED TIME OFFERS DISCOUNT EXTENDED! 5% off of FantasyHeadquarters.com fantasy football league entry fees! Click Here!Hi Folks, Welcome to Friday. Unless you're a Falcons fan, it's been a great week as teams across the country are gathering for training camps. We'll be going from a trickle of news coming in to a fire hydrant. But that's OK as we'll continue to sort through the haystack and bring you the stories you need to know. So let's get to it. JSITE NEWS A.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. NYJ - Jets RB Martin Officially Retires2. BUF - Bills QB Losman Lands On PUP List 3. ATL - Falcons QB Vick Pleads Not Guilty 4. BAL - Ravens Sign RG Grubbs To Five Year Deal 5. OAK - Raiders Release TE Anderson 6. DET - WR Johnson Only Lions Rookie Not In Camp 7. STL - Rams QB Bulger Skips Mandatory Meeting 8. MIN - Big Season Expected Of Vikings WR Williamson 9. ATL - Falcons Might Court Another RB 10. TEN - Titans WR Moulds Vying For Starting Role 11. DEF - PIT - Rookie LB Timmons Re-Injures Groin; Out Indefinitely 12. DEF - HOU - Slimmer DE Williams Expecting Big Season 13. DEF - TEN - Suspended Titans CB Jones Told To Stay Away 14. DEF - CIN - Bengals LB Thurman Rejected By NFL 15. DEF - TB - Buccaneers Release DE Simeon Rice NYJ - Jets RB Martin Officially Retires Source: ESPN, Associated Press Curtis Martin officially announced his retirement from the NFL and the New York Jets Thursday morning. Martin is fourth on the NFL's career rushing list, with only Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders ahead of him. Martin finished with 14,101 yards rushing in 11 active seasons. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Congratulations to one of the classiest players in the game. There's a good bit of buzz about Martin buying into an NFL team and we wish him all the best in whatever he pursues next. BUF - Bills QB Losman Lands On PUP List Source: Chris Smith, BuffaloBills.com The Buffalo Bills will place QB J.P. Losman on the active physically unable to perform list today. Losman strained his back two days ago while lifting weights. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Don't panic as this doesn't appear to a serious issue. Losman has been outstanding over the last few months and is prepped to surprise some folks. He needs to be out there on the field though. We expect him to be soon. ATL - Falcons QB Vick Pleads Not Guilty Source: ESPN Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal dogfighting charges and was released without bond until a Nov. 26 trial. The government also announced it will file a superseded indictment in August. This could mean new charges filed, or it could mean someone -- usually a person who has agreed to cooperate -- is being dropped from the indictment. That would mean a new arraignment. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] As expected, Vick plead Not Guilty. No news there. We still believe that he won't be on the field for 2007. In the meantime, the Falcons opened camp with Joey Harrington as their starting QB. BAL - Ravens Sign RG Grubbs To Five Year Deal Source: Len Pasquarelli, ESPN The Ravens on Thursday agreed to terms with first-round draft pick RG Ben Grubbs. The deal is reportedly a five-year contract worth $11 million. Grubbs, is expected to challenge for the starting job at right guard on a Baltimore line that appears to be in flux, particularly at the three interior positions. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The Ravens are bringing in some new offensive lineman that look to be ready to accept the passing of the torch from veterans like Jonathan Ogden in a year or so. Grubbs hopes to be part of that plan. OAK - Raiders Release TE Anderson Source: Associated Press, ESPN The Oakland Raiders have released TE Courtney Anderson who started 24 games the past two seasons, making 49 catches for 588 yards and five touchdowns. The Raiders used their 2nd-round draft pick on Zach Miller, who should have a chance to earn the starting tight end job during training camp. The Raiders also picked up free agents Fred Wakefield and Tony Stewart in the offseason to compete at the position.[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Tough news for Anderson but this is about Zach Miller. We think he'll be the #1 TE for the Raiders this season. Take that for what it's worth... DET - WR Johnson Only Lions Rookie Not In Camp Source: Associated Press, ESPN The Lions began training camp workouts Thursday without top pick WR Calvin Johnson. Johnson is the team's only rookie without a contract. HC Marinelli didn't seem concerned by Johnson's absence. "If that's a guy that has to be out, he should recover very quickly when he gets back," he said. "He did a great job in our offseason activities." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's still early enough that no one is getting too excited. As Marinelli said, Johnson was outstanding in mini camps and showed he can handle the work both physically and mentally. Now he just needs to get settled financially and into camp. STL - Rams QB Bulger Skips Mandatory Meeting Source: Associated Press, ESPN St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, who is seeking a new contract, was a no-show Thursday for a mandatory team meeting the day before the start of training camp. Rams coach Scott Linehan said team officials were meeting with Bulger's representatives and was hopeful that Bulger would be on the field for the first practice Friday morning. "I'd be surprised if he wasn't," Linehan said. "I think it'll be resolved. I'd be really surprised if it got that far, personally." Linehan said the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback's no show was an excused absence, for now, and there would be no fine. The two spoke by telephone Thursday morning and Linehan believed that Bulger was in St. Louis. "Certainly I'd be a lot more comfortable if it was resolved before the meeting, but I'll be fine if it's resolved in this meeting," Linehan said. "I don't know if he's going to be here or not," running back Steven Jackson said. "But I believe for him that everything will work out. "Without him, I don't know how we're going to run the offense." Center Andy McCollum said he expected Bulger to show up for the first practice "regardless of what happens." "He's been around a long time and he knows what he's doing," McCollum said. "I expect to see Marc today, but if not then I trust that he'll handle it."[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Let's see how this goes Friday. Tom Condon is Bulger's agent and he's been very busy with several other players around the league. We're not worried yet but let's see what he does Friday and we'll go from there. MIN - Big Season Expected Of Vikings WR Williamson Source: Sid Hartman, Minneapolis Star Tribune According to Vikings HC Brad Childress, WR Troy Williamson has made great strides during the offseason, spending time at Nike headquarters in Oregon to correct a vision problem and at minicamp with WR coach George Stewart. "There's a guy that's built a lot of equity in terms of really, in this offseason, learning how to be a pro, in terms of his work ethic and by any means necessary making himself better," Childress said. "I just believe it will pay us back in spades as we go to the fall." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Put me in the "I'll believe it when I see it" camp when it comes to Williamson. He's a guy with tons of talent that's made a habit of coming up small when the team needed him most. But maybe coach Stewart is right and Williamson has made some changes that will pay off. I'll believe it when I see it. ATL - Falcons Might Court Another RB Source: Steve Wyche, Atlanta Journal Constitution With RB Warrick Dunn reportedly out anywhere from 3-6 weeks for surgery on a herniated disk in his back, the Falcons are down to second-year back Jerious Norwood and seldom used veteran Jamal Robertson and rookie Jason Snelling. Atlanta will therefore likely seek out another veteran running back before the regular season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] As we've talked about, Warrick Dunn's injury opens the door even wider for Jerious Norwood to burst through. But Norwood has durability concerns with his 6' 0" / 204 pound frame. Can he handle a heavy workload? We'll see. In the meantime, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Falcons add a veteran RB for insurance. TEN - Titans WR Moulds Vying For Starting Role Source: Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper Newly acquired WR Eric Moulds will get a chance to start for the Tennessee Titans. Moulds, 34, was signed Wednesday to a one-year contract. His 57 receptions for the Houston Texans surpassed that of any Titans receiver last season and he will be reunited with his former WR coach Fred Graves, who was with Buffalo from 2001-2003. Moulds had just 557 yards last season and 816 in 2005. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Moulds brings veteran experience and leadership to a WR corps that sorely needs it. Vince Young is a great young QB, but he needs someone to catch passes. Moulds adds a viable target that should pay dividends. To see how we project the entire team, click here. DEF - PIT - Rookie LB Timmons Re-Injures Groin; Out Indefinitely Source: Associated Press, ESPN Pittsburgh Steelers rookie LB Lawrence Timmons has re-injured the groin he originally hurt in the May minicamp and no one is guessing how long he will be out. He was re-injured during the first of a pair of two-hour practices and will be out indefinitely. "He made a couple of plays today, then he ducked out," coach Mike Tomlin said, joking. "He felt a little twinge, so we're being cautious. We don't want to take a step backward as we move forward, and we'll take a look at it and then go from there." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Bad news for Timmons. Although coach Tomlin seemed to be lighthearted about it, it's something that could be a problem. May was a long time ago and you'd think he'd be healed by now. He certainly won't have another stretch of time to rest like he just saw. We'll watch this one closely for you. DEF - HOU - Slimmer DE Williams Expecting Big Season Source: Associated Press, ESPN 2nd-year DE Mario Williams feels as though a weight has been taken off his shoulders this season. A year removed from being chosen first overall in the NFL draft, Williams enters his second training camp in Houston happy the spotlight on him isn't quite so bright. His intense offseason conditioning program had an unintended consequence though. The 6-foot-6 player dropped almost 15 pounds to 280. Williams is expecting a big year with the knowledge gained from his rookie year and the luxury of playing right defensive end exclusively after moving up and down the line last season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Williams has to be glad the spotlight has shifted a little. He faced a nearly impossible situation last year as the Texans bypassed Reggie Bush and local favorite Vince Young for Williams. He didn't play terribly, he just wasn't anything like the seasons Bush and Young turned in. This year, he can just go out and play. And all indications point to him playing better this year. DEF - TEN - Suspended Titans CB Jones Told To Stay Away Source: NBC Sports Suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was denied a request Thursday by the NFL to join the Tennessee Titans for training camp. HC Jeff Fisher said commissioner Roger Goodell informed the team of the league's position. "It's what we have expected throughout the offseason -- that he will not be permitted to participate in training camp, and he will only be permitted to use the facility one day a week for treatment and counseling," Fisher said. "We've moved on. We're looking forward to filling the holes. We feel like we've done so with the roster. Now we need to do so with production on the field." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] "We've moved on" is the prevailing sentiment among the Titans coaching staff. Jones appears to be a non factor as far as the Titans are concerned. DEF - CIN - Bengals LB Thurman Rejected By NFL Source: Geoff Hobson, CincinnatiBengals.com The NFL announced today that it will extend the suspension of Bengals LB Odell Thurman by another year. Rumors of a reinstatement were gaining steam this week, but the Bengals were planning as if Thurman would not be participating in training camp or the regular season. "I don't count on anybody unless they're in uniform. There's nothing to really say," DC Chuck Bresnahan said. Thurman can reapply for reinstatement at the end of the season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Once again, the Commissioner shows he's not playing softball here. This doesn't change much for Cincinnati as they were not counting on Thurman being there. DEF - TB - Buccaneers Release DE Simeon Rice Source: Chris Harry, Orlando Sentinel The Buccaneers opened their 2007 training camp with a bombshell Thursday night by announcing the release of Pro Bowl DE Simeon Rice. Rice was entering the final season of a five-year, $41 million contract extension. He was due to make $7.25 million in '07, with a salary cap figure of around $10.45 million. Tampa Bay's front office and coaching staff obviously viewed Rice as expendable after reaching a contract agreement with rookie DE Gaines Adams, the fourth overall pick in the April draft. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Just another example of the business angle of the NFL. Rice is a popular guy but he just didn't make financial sense for the Buccaneers any longer. It's situations like this that make me not get too excited when I see players hold out for more money while they're under contract to play. That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a fantastic Friday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update. Thanks for reading. J |
